Iraq: Service Police Investigations

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will establish an independent civilian-led investigation into alleged unlawful killings by British Forces in Iraq; and whether they will compensate the families of persons unlawfully killed by members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces.

Lord Bach: An important role of the Service Police is to investigate alleged offences by members of the UK Armed Forces. Service Police investigations are competent, impartial and effective. Service Police work to Home Office standards, are advised by professional lawyers, and are required by statute to follow civilian police force procedures. It is very difficult to see what added value a civilian body would bring to these investigations. In addition, there would be practical difficulties associated with a civilian body working in a hostile environment. We have every confidence in existing arrangements.
	Claims made by Iraqis for losses that do not arise in connection with combat operations are handled in accordance with the direction of the Coalition Provisional Authority—specifically Section 18 of CPA order number 17.

Iraq: UK Government Response to ICRC Report

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which of the following recommendations made by the International Committee of the Red Cross in its report of February 2004 they have accepted and implemented:
	(a) to respect at all times the human dignity, physical integrity and cultural sensitivity of the persons deprived of their liberty held under control;
	(b) to set up a system of notifications of arrest to ensure quick and accurate transmission of information to the families of persons deprived of their liberty; (c) to prevent all forms of ill treatment, moral or physical coercion of persons deprived of their liberty in relation to interrogation; (d) to set up an internment regime which ensures the respect of the psychological integrity and human dignity of the persons deprived of their liberty; (e) to ensure that all persons deprived of their liberty are allowed sufficient time every day outside in the sunlight, and that they are allowed to move and exercise in the outside yard; (f) to define and apply regulations and sanctions compatible with international humanitarian law and to ensure that persons deprived of their liberty are fully informed about such regulations; (g) to investigate thoroughly violations of international humanitarian law in order to determine responsibilities and prosecute those found responsible for violations of international humanitarian law; and (h) to ensure that battle group units arresting invidividuals and also staff in charge of internment facilities receive adequate training enabling them to operate in a proper manner and fulfil their responsibilities as arresting authority without resorting to ill treatment or making excessive use of force.

Lord Bach: The International Committee of the Red Cross report of February 2004 was an interim one based on findings from visits made by the ICRC to detention facilities in Iraq between March and November the previous year. By the time the report was submitted the UK's Divisional Temporary Detention Facility had opened and the few concerns relating to UK forces the report raised had been or were being dealt with.
	The UK's commitment to the protocols of the Geneva conventions covers the noble Lord's points at (a), (b), (c), (d), (f) and (g).
	Regarding (e), internees at the DTDF are able to take regular exercise outside, the large majority of whom do so on a daily basis.
	Regarding (h), all UK forces personnel are briefed on the law of armed conflict which includes guidance on basic prisoner handling. Each major unit also has a number of personnel trained to a greater degree in prisoner handling and UK personnel at the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility, which holds UK internees, are given further specific training.

UK and European Parliaments: Costs

Viscount Tenby: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the number of sitting days of:
	(a) the House of Commons; (b) the House of Lords; and (c) the European Parliament in (i) parliamentary session 2002–03; (ii) calendar year; and (iii) financial year 2003–04; and
	What is the annual cost of maintaining each of the European Parliament; the House of Commons; and the House of Lords; broken down as follows:
	(a) salaries, pensions, travelling allowances, secretarial expenses for Members; (b) salaries, allowances and pensions and other costs of supporting staff; (c) accommodation, including rent, operating cost and security; and (d) all other administrative costs such as stationery, office equipment, publications, payment to parliamentary bodies and other relevant outgoings for 2003–04 and the previous four years; and
	What is the per capita cost per Member of:
	(a) the European Parliament; (b) the House of Commons; and (c) the House of Lords for 2003–04 and the previous four years.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Precise comparisons between the cost of the European Parliament and the Houses of Parliament are difficult. The requested information is set out below.
	Costs
	European Parliament
	The figures for the years 1999 to 2002 (WA 146) given in my reply of 19 June 2003 have been amended reflecting changes in methodology.
	Last year's Answer incorporated budget figures (i.e. what the European Parliament budgeted to spend) rather than outturn figures (i.e. what the European Parliament actually spent).
	The European Parliament's own revenue has not been included in the past—this principally arises from levies on salaries, return on investments and pension contributions by staff. These revenues reduce the cost of the European Parliament.
	
		
			 € millions 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 European Parliament (1)  
			 (a)   salaries, pensions, travelling allowances, secretarial expenses for Members 92.2 96.2 95.6 100.1 102.9 
			 (b)   salaries, allowances and pensions and other costs of supporting staff 353.9 370.3 390.5 400.0 437.9 
			 (c)   accommodation, including rent, operating cost and security 247.2 296.9 291.9 220.1 192.1 
			 (d)   all other administrative costs such as stationery, office equipment, publications, payment to parliamentary bodies and other relevant outgoings 224.3 209.4 227.8 257.0 353.7 
			 (e)   Own resources (3) –55.3 –62.8 –69.4 –67.3 –66.3 
			 Total 862.3 910.0 936.4 909.9 1,020.3 
			 of which cost to UK (4) 115.8 143.4 89.8 118.9 128.4 
		
	
	
		
			 € millions 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 European Parliament (1&2)  
			 (a)   salaries, pensions, travelling allowances, secretarial expenses for Members 60.7 58.6 59.4 62.9 71.9 
			 (b)   salaries, allowances and pensions and other costs of supporting staff 233.0 225.7 242.8 251.5 305.8 
			 (c)   accommodation, including rent, operating cost and security 162.7 180.9 181.5 138.4 134.1 
			 (d)   all other administrative costs such as stationery, office equipment, publications, payment to parliamentary bodies and other relevant outgoings 147.6 127.6 141.6 161.6 247.0 
			 (e)   Own resources (3) –36.4 –38.3 –43.2 –42.3 –46.3 
			 Total 567.6 554.5 582.2 572.2 712.5 
			 of which cost to UK (4) 76.2 87.4 55.8 74.8 89.7 
		
	
	House of Commons
	The House of Commons is accountable for its own expenditure and has provided details of cash costs as follows. The requested breakdown of costs is not readily available.
	
		
			 £ k 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 Administration Estimate 164.851 162.538 134.803 138.328 138.269 
			 Members Estimate 91.495 94.417 118.850 130.022 130.960 
			 Total 256.346 256.955 253.653 268.350 269.229 
		
	
	The Administration Estimate includes the costs of running the House of Commons itself (accommodation, staff, security, equipment, etc). The Members Estimate covers the cost of the salaries, expenses, training and IT support for Members of Parliament and their staff.
	House of Lords
	The House of Lords is accountable for its own expenditure and it has provided details of cash costs as follows. The requested breakdown of costs is not readily available.
	
		
			  £ million 
			 1999–2000 45.3 
			 2000–01 45.7 
			 2001–02 57.4 
			 2002–03 57.6 
			 2003–04 61.1 
		
	
	Number of sitting days
	
		
			 Sitting Days Parliamentary Year 2002–03 2003 Financial Year 2003–04 
			 European Parliament (5) 161 151 155.5 
			 House of Commons 162 153 155 
			 House of Lords 174 166 165 
		
	
	Per Capita Cost per member
	
		
			 £k 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 European 
			 Parliament 
			 (6) 907 886 930 914 1,138 
			 House of 
			 Commons 
			 (7) 389 390 385 407 409 
			 House of 
			 Lords (8) 
			  37 67 81 83 91 
		
	
	Notes:
	(1) Figures for calendar years 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. Outturn figures for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. Adopted budget for 2003.
	(2) Converted at appropriate £/€ exchange rate for the year.
	(3) Includes deductions from remuneration, revenue accruing from administrative operation and miscellaneous revenue.
	(4) Cost to UK is derived from the UK's financing share after abatement.
	(5) Includes plenary sessions as well as part-plenaries, committee days, political group days in Brussels and constituency days.
	(6) Per capita cost based on 626 seats in the European Parliament.
	(7) Per capita cost based on 659 Members.
	(8) Per capita costs based on the number of Peers eligible to sit in the House of Lords at the beginning of each year. The number of Peers has reduced significantly since the House of Lords Act when 655 hereditary Peers ceased to be Members from November 1999.

BBC: European Investment Bank Loans

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the BBC has received any loans from the European Investment Bank during the period 2000 to 2004; and, if so, for what purpose.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The BBC has not received any loans from the European Investment Bank, although its commercial subsidiaries do borrow from the European Investment Bank for commercial purposes.

Department of Trade and Industry: Hard Copy Publications

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether rural proofing guidelines have been applied to the decision of the Department of Trade and Industry to stop hard copy production of their employment rights books and leaflets.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: No. The department continues to publish a number of employment rights publications including PL716 Individual Rights and has in place arrangements to provide hard copy publications on demand for those unable to access the Internet at home, at work or through the library-based People's Network. Advice and guidance on employment rights is available in hard copy from ACAS.

GP Referrals: Maximum Wait

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of regional differences in the maximum wait from general practitioner referral to National Health Service hospital treatment.

Lord Warner: Information on the maximum wait from general practitioner referral to National Health Service hospital treatment is not collected centrally. The following table shows the number of outpatient appointments commissioned in each strategic health authority area where patients were waiting longer than 17 weeks (the current maximum waiting time standard) at the end of March 2004. The figures cover first outpatient appointment following a GP or a general dental practitioner referral to a consultant.
	
		
			 Strategic Health Authority Number of patients waiting over 17 weeks for a first outpatient appointment (end of March 2004) 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 0 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 1 
			 Essex 0 
			 North West London 0 
			 North Central London 0 
			 North East London 0 
			 South East London 3 
			 South West London 0 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 0 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 0 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 1 
			 West Yorkshire 12 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 0 
			 Greater Manchester 0 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 128 
			 Thames Valley 0 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 0 
			 Kent and Medway 0 
			 Surrey and Sussex 0 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 12 
			 South West Peninsula 2 
			 Somerset and Dorset 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 
			 Trent 0 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire & Rutland 0 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 148 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 0 
			 West Midlands South 0 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health QM08R
	1 These patients are waiting to be seen at Welsh trusts and have been offered alternatives to be seen at an English trust.

Local Exercise Action Pilot Programme

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 29 March (WA 137–38), when the 10 local exercise action pilot schemes started; and how long they are due to last.

Lord Warner: The 10 primary care trusts selected to lead the local exercise action pilots were announced in March, 2003. The pilots launched within their local communities between January and June 2004 and will run for two years through until January 2006.

Local Exercise Action Pilot Programme

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 29 March (WA 137–38), which are the 10 local exercise action pilot schemes selected by the Government; and which primary care trusts are leading each scheme.

Lord Warner: The local exercise action pilot programme is jointly funded with Sport England and the Countryside Agency. The 10 pilots are led by primary care trusts working within local strategic partnerships to deliver a range of interventions aimed at increasing levels of physical activity both across the community and within specific target groups.
	The following PCT's are leading the pilots:
	
		
			 Primary Care Trust Focus of Pilot 
			 Ashton, Leigh & Wigan The pilot is developing an integrated programme of physical activity opportunities addressing the needs of older people (50+ years). 
			  
			 Durham Dales A preventive pilot programme targeting sedentary 5–16 year-olds within the Durham Dales PCT locality. 
			  
			 Nottingham City The pilot is seeking to increase the number of adults aged 50 years and older who take regular moderate physical activity. 
			  
			 Great Yarmouth The pilot is aiming to integrate innovative physical activity interventions into current primary care systems. The interventions will reach a broad target audience including children and young people, older people, people at high risk of illness. 
			  
			 North Kirklees A community-wide pilot with the aim of improving health, well being and quality of life through the promotion of physical activity. In particular, working with people who are sedentary and moderately active, and with specific identified at-risk groups. 
			  
			 Wandsworth The pilot is developing an integrated physical activity promotion programme to promote moderate physical activity more effectively with sedentary and "at-risk" groups. 
			  
			 West Cornwall The pilot will bring the health and leisure sectors together in partnership to provide information and support for those at risk of developing or recovering from medical conditions. 
			  
			 Plymouth The pilot is targeting young people and developing the exercise referral model using free swimming to increase levels of physical activity. 
			  
			 Dudley Beacon & Castle The pilot is encouraging the use of parks and open spaces by disadvantaged groups for health-enhancing physical activity. 
			  
			 Hastings & St Leonard's The pilot is aiming to increase the number of children and young people living in Hastings taking regular, moderate intensity physical exercise.

Atkins Medical Information Services

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether officials of the Clinical Governance Support Team of the Department of Health intervened in the arrangements of the forthcoming conference organised by the Nursing Times to prevent a speaker from Atkins Medical Information Services from being included on the agenda; if so, on what basis; and with whose authority.

Lord Warner: The Essence of Care conference held on 30 June 2004 was organised by EMAPmap Healthcare in association with Professional Nurse and Nursing Times and sponsored by Atkins Medical Information Services.
	Discussions were held with the conference organisers about potential conflicts of interest between some of the speakers and the sponsors. However, no member of the Clinical Governance Support Team intervened with the conference organisers to prevent a speaker from Atkins Medical Information Services from being included on the agenda.
	The CGST fully supported the aims of the event and had always committed two members of its staff to present at it, whatever the circumstances.

Sports Nutrition Products

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the purpose of the forthcoming European legislation on sports nutrition products; and
	What steps the Food Standards Agency will be taking to ensure that the interests of the United Kingdom sports nutrition industry are fully protected in the discussions on the forthcoming European sports nutrition legislation; and
	What is the maximum permitted daily dose of creatine intake permitted for sports nutrition products in the United Kingdom; on what basis that level was set; and what levels of creatine use will be proposed under the forthcoming European sports nutrition legislation; and
	What assessment they have made of the impact that the proposed maximum permitted levels for creatine use set out in draft European legislation on sports nutrition products would have upon the United Kingdom specialist sports nutrition industry.

Lord Warner: The purpose of the proposed legislation on sports nutrition products is to protect consumers by ensuring that such foods meet the particular nutritional requirements of people who participate in activities that involve intense muscular effort. In addition, these products need to be adequately labelled in order to allow consumers to make informed choices.
	The Food Standards Agency has sought the views of stakeholders on the European Commission's initial working document for this proposal and met with representatives of the sports nutrition industry to discuss their concerns. It will continue to consult stakeholders as the legislation develops.
	Currently, there is no specified maximum permitted level for creatine in sports foods. However, products on sale in Great Britain must comply with the Food Safety Act 1990 or similar legislation in Northern Ireland. The Commission's working document proposes that creatine products should bear instructions for use that result in intakes of not more than 3g creatine per day. The impact on the industry of this level, or any other level that is set in the formal proposal from the Commission, will be considered as part of the regulatory impact asessment for the proposal.

NHS Continuing Care

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the assessment tools that underpin the criteria for National Health Service continuing care are being applied uniformly across all strategic health authorities; and
	Whether the assessment tools that underpin the criteria for National Health Service continuing care can identify the mental health needs of those being assessed.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health has been clear that an individual's mental health needs are to be considered during continuing care assessments and expects any assessment tools used would do so. The department has not issued or recommended a standard assessment tool for continuing care assessments, the choice of an assessment tool is a matter for strategic health authorities.

NHS Continuing Care

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why strategic health authorities were asked in September 2003 to review continuing care arrangements using the Department of Health guidance which was criticised by the Health Ombudsman in February 2003.

Lord Warner: Strategic health authorities have used the existing guidance on setting criteria, since the legal position has not changed since 2001. Without a change in the legal position, the Department of Health was not able to reinterpret the guidance. The department required strategic health authorities to review their criteria and provide evidence that their criteria met legal requirements.

NHS Continuing Care

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How strategic health authorities are identifying those continuing care cases where a person may have been incorrectly assessed.

Lord Warner: Strategic health authorities are examining all cases that are presented for investigation or where case finding has indicated a potential need for an investigation. The Department of Health issued a model template for investigating cases where individuals may have been wrongly assessed as ineligible for continuing care. A copy of this template is in the Library.

NHS Continuing Care

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Statement on National Health Service continuing care on 24 June (WS 66), what appeal process is in place for those who are turned down for recompense; and how many have (a) appealed or (b) complained to the Health Ombudsman.

Lord Warner: Individuals who are unhappy with the outcome of their recompense review have recourse to the National Health Service complaints procedure. The Department of Health does not hold data on the number of continuing care restitution cases which are undergoing an appeal or have been passed to the ombudsman.

Skin Cancer

Lord Henley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they will take to encourage high risk groups to seek advice from health professionals on skin changes and the appearance of lesions.

Lord Warner: Cancer Research UK has been commissioned by the United Kingdom health departments to provide the SunSmart skin cancer prevention campaign for the next three years.
	The importance of seeking advice from health professionals on skin changes and the appearance of lesions is stressed in our key messages of the campaign—the SMART code, which is used in all campaign strategies:
	Stay in the shade between 11–3
	Make sure you never burn
	Always cover up
	Remember to take extra care with children
	Then use factor 15+ sunscreen
	Also report mole changes or unusual skin growths promptly to your doctor.
	These messages are widely seen on our range of posters, leaflets, press and PR activities, and through partnerships with our corporate partners. These materials have been sent in various forms to every nursery, primary and secondary school, health promotion units, primary care and Sure-Start co-ordinators in the UK. As an indication of the scale of this distribution, in 2004, over 175,000 posters and over 2 million postcard-sized message cards have been printed for active distribution.
	In the first phase of the campaign, we are aiming to raise awareness of our key messages to all people, with particular emphasis on parents and carers of children. At every opportunity we emphasise the increased risk for people with fair skin, many moles, a history of sunburn and/or a history of skin cancer in the family. We will then increase the focus on teenagers who exhibit high-risk sun seeking behaviour.
	We are working closely with the Tanning Industry to promote our key messages to at-risk groups of sunbed users, and encouraging people to seek early health professional opinion on any suspect moles.

Skin Cancer

Lord Henley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they will take to facilitate early diagnosis of skin cancers among high risk groups.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health has issued Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer to assist general practitioners in determining those patients who need to be referred urgently to see a specialist within two weeks. The guidance addresses skin cancers. The referral guidelines are currently being reviewed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the updated guidelines are due to be published in March 2005.
	The Department of Health and Welsh Assembly government have also commissioned NICE to produce service guidance for skin tumours including melanoma. This guidance is due for publication in April 2005 and will address areas such as diagnosis, treatment and follow up.
	In addition, United Kingdom health departments have commissioned Cancer Research UK to provide the SunSmart skin cancer prevention campaign for the next three years.
	The SunSmart campaign includes:
	40,000 posters designed to assist general practitioners and practice nurses in the identification of suspicious skin lesions. The poster has now been distributed to all UK doctors' surgeries.
	A series of health information leaflets for surgeries, for distribution to patients. These include Malignant Melanoma—be a mole watcher for life and Skin cancer—how to be SunSmart and reduce your risk.
	Working with health professionals to encourage regional "Mole Watch" clinics where health professionals offer a free screening service in public areas.
	Through these strategies, we are encouraging health professionals to take an opportunistic approach to checking patients' moles when they attend surgery and encouraging the public to check their moles and seek professional opinion for early diagnosis of suspect lesions.

Heart Health

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to increase awareness among the general public of the role diet and lifestyle changes can play in improving heart health.

Lord Warner: The Government have recently conducted a major consultation exercise on improving public health. The consultation covered a range of lifestyle issues that improves heart health, including diet and physical activity. Response to the consultation exercise will involve the development of a Public Health White Paper, due later this year.
	We already have the five-a-day programme, which includes a number of communications initiatives to inform consumers of the benefits of eating a variety of at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day for heart health as well as other health benefits. Regarding physical activity, a social marketing campaign to increase exercise is being piloted this summer in the north-east of England. Led by Sport England, the campaign will encourage people to include more physical activity in their daily routine.
	The Department of Health also funds a range of non-governmental organisations to increase awareness of the benefits of healthy diet and active lifestyles, including a campaign to make the public aware of the importance of knowing their blood pressure numbers.

Heart Health

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish the Food and Health Action Plan; and what emphasis they place on improving heart health by (a) reducing salt intake; (b) reducing saturated fat intake; and (c) reducing smoking.

Lord Warner: A plan of action for food and health will be launched in the context of the White Paper on public health in the autumn. Reducing population intakes of salt and saturated fat, to improve heart health and bring about health benefits, are a priority for government. One of the three key strands in the NHS implementation plan is to offer a better service for a healthier and fitter population. Details of the public health element of this will be contained in the White Paper. This also builds on the commitment in the NHS Plan to work with the food industry to improve the overall balance of diet including salt, fat and sugar in food, working with the Food Standards Agency.
	We also regard reducing smoking as crucial to improving heart health. We have in place a comprehensive tobacco control strategy, designed to have a measurable impact on reducing smoking prevalence.

Hazardous Waste Incineration

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What range of hazardous wastes may be burned in incinerators; and whether they intend to increase that range.

Lord Whitty: Any hazardous waste can be burned in incinerators, subject to the incinerator's emissions and operation meeting the requirements of Directive 94/67/EC on the incineration of hazardous waste. This directive will be repealed and replaced by Directive 2000/76/EC on the incineration of waste from 28 December 2005, although the latter directive's requirements already apply to incinerators new or substantially changed since 28 December 2002. The requirements of these directives have been transposed into UK law through regulations and directions.

Exotic Birds

Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many exotic birds from third countries not classified under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora agreements are quarantined in the United Kingdom each year.

Lord Whitty: Exotic birds must be imported in accordance with the animal health requirements laid down in Commission Decision 2000/666/EC. The decision requires that all exotic birds (birds other than poultry) imported into the United Kingdom are quarantined for at least 30 days.
	According to our records the number of exotic captive birds from third countries that were quarantined in the United Kingdom from 2001 to date are as follows:
	2001—19,720 2002—115,177 2003—91,445 2004 (to 30 June)—44,200
	We are unable to provide the number of exotic birds that were not classified under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as our records do not distinguish between CITES and non-CITES birds.

Exotic Birds

Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What data exist on the number of exotic birds that travel via the United Kingdom and are in the country for less than two months.

Lord Whitty: Defra's system for recording animal movements does not record the length of time that imported birds are resident in the United Kingdom before they are exported and therefore we are unable to provide you with any reliable data. According to our records, 1,195 exotic captive birds travelled via the United Kingdom between 1 January 2002 and 30 June 2004.

Exotic Birds

Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the current guidelines concerning the importation of exotic birds from countries outside the European Union not covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora agreements.

Lord Whitty: All captive birds (birds other than poultry), regardless of whether they are covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, are subject to conditions and controls on animal health and welfare in transport laid down by Community law.
	Exotic captive birds must be imported from third countries in accordance with the animal health requirements and veterinary certification as laid down by the European Commission (Commission Decision 2000/666/EC).
	These import conditions ensure that only birds which are officially certified as being free from serious disease can be imported into the European Community. The birds must originate from a member country of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE—World Organisation for Animal Health) and be accompanied by health certification issued by an official veterinarian of that country.
	Captive birds may only be imported into the European Community via an approved border inspection post where they undergo checks by an official veterinarian to ensure that the consignment complies with the import requirements.

Import of Animal Products for Personal Consumption

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How successful they have been in raising public awareness of the rules regarding the import of animal products for personal consumption; and how this success has been measured; and
	What range of activities was used to raise public awareness of the rules regarding the import of animal products for personal consumption; and what was the cost of these activities since the strategy was implemented.

Lord Whitty: Two surveys, the last of which reported in May 2003, indicated that there had been a low level of public awareness of the rules regarding the import of animal products for personal consumption.
	Since then, we have made a significant effort to raise public awareness of the rules. For example, there has been increased enforcement activity by Customs, more prominent posters being displayed at ports and airports and revised leaflets have been produced. Also, many airlines now publicise the rules at check in, by in-flight announcements and their on-board magazines, and 3¼ million travel wallets now carry the "if in doubt, leave it out" message. Customs is producing a number of language and country-specific versions of the leaflets; and these will be made available internationally as well as being used by Customs detection staff at ports and airports. Defra has written again to universities, charities and volunteer organisations. The Central Office of Information has been commissioned to undertake research in the UK about attitudes and sensitivities surrounding the importation of food. The results of this research will be used to inform future publicity campaigns.
	We will undertake further periodic surveys to monitor the success of the various campaigns.
	In addition, we have committed £25 million over the three financial years from 2003–04 to tackle illegal imports of products of animal origin. Detail of the costs of the publicity campaigns is not available as central departmental funds are used for this purpose in addition to the specifically allocated budget.